Thrive whole-school model shows lower exclusions
An independent ImpactEd evaluation of Thrive Approach’s whole-school wellbeing model reports 27% lower exclusion rates overall — and a 52% drop in primary — along with improved wellbeing for SEND pupils and better staff morale. The findings provide evidence that a coordinated, schoolwide wellbeing model can scale measurable reductions in exclusion and lift staff climate. (x.com)
A school wellbeing program is being talked about because the numbers moved in a place where they usually move the other way. An independent 2026 evaluation by ImpactEd said schools using Thrive had a 27% lower exclusion rate than the England average in 2023/24, with primary-school exclusions down 52% and secondary-school exclusions down 35% over the evaluation period. (web.thriveapproach.com) This was not a one-school case study. The evaluation combined a two-year mixed-methods study with a national comparative analysis covering more than 2,600 schools in England, which Thrive says makes it one of the largest independent evaluations of a school wellbeing approach so far. (thriveapproach.com) (web.thriveapproach.com) In England, “exclusion” means removing a pupil from school, either for a fixed period or permanently. Government data for 2023/24 shows permanent exclusions rose to 10,900, or 13 per 10,000 pupils, so Thrive’s claim lands in a system where national exclusion pressure is still high. (gov.uk) (dera.ioe.ac.uk) Thrive’s model is not a single lesson or counseling slot. It is a whole-school approach built around relational and trauma-sensitive practice, which means staff are trained to read behavior as a sign of need and respond before problems become removals from class or school. (web.thriveapproach.com) (thriveapproach.com) The strongest gains showed up for children who are usually most exposed to exclusion risk. The report says pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities saw average wellbeing scores rise by about 5% during the 2023/24 school year, even as national pupil wellbeing was declining. (web.thriveapproach.com) (thriveapproach.com) Staff outcomes moved too, which matters because exclusions are often made by adults under strain in difficult classrooms. The evaluation says staff wellbeing in Thrive schools sat above national workforce averages in the Teacher Wellbeing Index, and school staff reported better morale, less emotional strain, and more confidence in handling intensive support cases. (thriveapproach.com) (web.thriveapproach.com) Attendance data points in the same direction. Thrive said the same evaluation found severe absenteeism 15% lower overall than national averages, with reductions of up to 38% in schools using the approach most consistently, which suggests the schools were not just excluding fewer pupils but also keeping more of them connected to school day after day. (thriveapproach.com) ImpactEd describes its evaluation work as using national datasets and benchmarking tools to compare outcomes like wellbeing, attendance, and exclusions at scale. That does not make this a randomized trial, but it does mean the headline numbers come from a larger evidence base than the usual testimonial-led school improvement pitch. (impactedgroup.uk) (web.thriveapproach.com) The report also puts a price tag on exclusion. Using Institute for Public Policy Research estimates cited in the study, Thrive says the observed reduction is equivalent to about £680,000 in avoided lifetime public costs per 1,000 pupils, although the authors say those are indicative long-term benefits rather than money a school can bank next term. (thriveapproach.com) So the real claim here is bigger than “wellbeing helps.” It is that a schoolwide behavior model tied to staff practice, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities support, and day-to-day relationships can show up in hard metrics like exclusions and attendance across thousands of schools, not just in survey comments or assembly slides. (web.thriveapproach.com) (thriveapproach.com)
